February 4, 2026

Why regularly taking laxatives over the long term can be a bad idea

February 4, 2026 / Patient education / InnovateMed Author / laxative

by Vincent Ho, The Conversation edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Editors’ notes The GIST Add as preferred source Credit: Anna Shvets/Pexels If you’ve ever been constipated, you may have tried laxatives. They’re easy to get without a prescription and often help get things moving. Certainly a lot of people use laxatives and some older people are […]

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Test strip with enhanced technology could make way for more accessible diagnosis

February 4, 2026 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / test strip

by La Trobe University edited by Stephanie Baum, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Editors’ notes The GIST Add as preferred source Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A research team led by La Trobe University has developed a single-use test strip that could ultimately change how diseases like cancer are diagnosed. The research used enzymes to boost an electrical signal to

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Why do our joints crack, pop and crunch? Should we worry about it?

February 4, 2026 / Patient education / InnovateMed Author / joint

by Clodagh Toomey, The Conversation edited by Stephanie Baum, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Editors’ notes The GIST Add as preferred source Credit: CC0 Public Domain Many of us have noisy joints. Knees crack on the stairs, necks pop when we stretch, and knuckles seem to crack almost on demand. These sounds can be startling and are often blamed

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Pancreatic tumors eliminated in mice without resistance developing

February 4, 2026 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / pancreatic tumors

by The Spanish National Cancer Research Centre edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Robert Egan Editors’ notes The GIST Add as preferred source Pancreatic cancer cells (blue) growing as a sphere encased in membranes (red). Credit: National Cancer Institute Current drugs for pancreatic cancer lose effectiveness within months because the tumor becomes resistant. Now, a group from Spain’s

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A single skin gene helps build the body’s first line of immune defense

February 4, 2026 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / skin gene

by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev edited by Stephanie Baum, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Editors’ notes The GIST Add as preferred source Graphical abstract of the study. Credit: Cell Reports (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2025.116648 Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) have discovered that a gene long known for shaping the skin’s physical barrier also plays a crucial role in

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Potent DNA-recombination method developed for large cargo delivery in gene therapy

February 4, 2026 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / Gene therapy

by Liu Jia, Chinese Academy of Sciences edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Robert Egan Editors’ notes The GIST Add as preferred source Graphical abstract. Credit: Cell (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.12.039 Delivery of therapeutic genes is essential for gene therapy. Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) are a prime vector for carrying gene cargoes because of their superior gene segmentation flexibility and robust gene

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Backward walking study results may help to improve mobility and decrease falls in multiple sclerosis patients

February 4, 2026 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / multiple sclerosis

by Julie O’Connor, Wayne State University edited by Stephanie Baum, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Editors’ notes The GIST Add as preferred source Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A collaborative team of researchers and students from Wayne State University’s Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, School of Medicine, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Institute of Gerontology

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AI voice analysis could diagnose a concussion within seconds of a player going down

February 4, 2026 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / concussion

by Alexandra Pecharich, Florida International University edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Editors’ notes The GIST Add as preferred source Credit: CC0 Public Domain In 2022, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa returned to a game against the Buffalo Bills after sustaining a head injury that the NFL later acknowledged should have been classified as a concussion.

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A newly identified protein is key to regulating cholesterol release

February 4, 2026 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / cholesterol

by UT Southwestern Medical Center edited by Stephanie Baum, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Editors’ notes The GIST Add as preferred source Credit: CC0 Public Domain Two UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have identified a protein that plays a key role in controlling the liver’s release of cholesterol-carrying lipoproteins into the bloodstream, a discovery that could lead to new treatments

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One-third of dementia cases are linked to non brain-related diseases, study finds

February 4, 2026 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / dementia

by Ingrid Fadelli, Medical Xpress edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Robert Egan Editors’ notes The GIST Add as preferred source Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Dementia is a term used to describe memory loss, impaired reasoning, difficulties communicating and other mental impairments that can be caused by Alzheimer’s disease, other neurodegenerative disease, strokes, severe infections, head injuries or

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